Micariascutellata, Booysen & Haddad, 2021

Booysen, Ruan & Haddad, Charles R., 2021, Revision and molecular phylogeny of the spider genus Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in the Afrotropical Region, Zootaxa 4940 (1), pp. 1-82 : 65-67

Micariascutellata sp. nov.

Figs 35 , 62 , 82 , 94 , 108 , 165 – 166

Type material. Holotype: ♂, SOUTHAFRICA: KwaZulu–Natal: Ndumo Game Reserve, Nyamiti Pan , base of trees, under logs, hand collecting, 26°53.767’S, 32°16.557’E, leg. C. Haddad & R. Booysen, 7.XII.2018 (NCA 2020/83).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu–Natal: iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Mission Rocks picnic site, base of grass tussocks, coastal forest, hand collecting, 28°15.879’S, 32°28.922’E, 90 m a.s.l., leg. C. Haddad, 29.XI.2015, 1 ♂ (NCA 2020/84); same data as holotype, 1 ♂ (NCA 2020/83) .

Etymology. The species name is combination of the derived Latin adjective latus (broad) and the Latin substantive scutum (shield), referring to the broad scutum of the male that covers most of the anterior half of the abdomen.

Diagnosis. The males of this species are easily recognized by their enlarged scutum. Furthermore, the anterior margin of the carapace of M. scutellata sp. nov. is rounded ( Fig. 27 ), whereas that of M. felix sp. nov. is truncated ( Fig. 12 ). The palpal structures of the two species are very similar, but the distal retrolateral spine’s position in M. scutellata sp. nov. is closer to the cymbial tip. These features, coupled with the longer basal retrolateral dorsal spine on the palp, would justify M. scutellata sp. nov. being a separate species. The females are still unknown.

Description. Male (holotype from Nyamiti Pan, Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa, NCA 2020/83) Measurements: TL 2.13, CL 1.13, CW 0.88, CL:CW 1.28, CLH 0.06, CLH:AME 1.5. Eye diameters and interdistances: ALE 0.48, AME 0.04, PLE 0.04, PME 0.03, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.04, MOQAW 0.10, MOQPW 0.13, MOQL 0.18. SL 0.57, SW 0.30, AL 0.87, AW 0.44. Leg measurements: Palpal segment lengths: 0.40, 0.22, 0.21, 0.30. Leg I: 0.65, 0.24, 0.56, 0.46, 0.51. II: 0.73, 0.24, 0.49, 0.49, 0.52. III: 0.56, 0.22, 0.43, 0.51, 0.44. IV: 0.98, 0.30, 0.81, 0.84, 0.56. TLoflegs (I–IV): 2.42, 2.47, 2.16, 3.49; leg formula: 4213.

Colouration: carapace dark brown; abdomen dark brown on posterior half and light brown on anterior half; leg Iand II with femora darkened on basal half, legs III–IV uniform in colour; endites, labium and chelicerae similar in colour to carapace ( Fig. 35 ). Carapace: smooth in texture; decorated with squamose setae; radiating dark lines present medially; posterior margin straight; fovea absent; anterior margin narrowing slightly from first coxa; PER slightly recurved in dorsal view, AER recurved in anterior view. Chelicerae: decorated with plumose setae. Labium: triangular in shape, rounded at tip, accompanied by cluster of setae. Endites: oblique; anterior margin rounded; cluster of setae present on inner–apical margin; anterior margin darkened. Sternum: shield-like; lighter than carapace; dark patches on lateral edges; broadest between coxa Iand II; posterior margin tapered behind coxa IV; decorated with scattered long aculeate setae. Legs: femora laterally flattened, highest at base, leg Imore pronounced in this fashion; rest of legs normal, thin; decorated with feathery setae ( Fig. 82 ). Abdomen: cylindrical in shape; decorated with squamose setae; large scutum present, very broad, covering three–quarters of abdomen width; faint white median line just below scutum; lateral white stripes present on anterior half of abdomen; venter lighter than dorsum, with no markings visible; sigilla not visible. Leg macrosetae: Palps: 1pl, 1pl, 1plv, 1pl, 2plv, 2vt. Leg I: 1pl, 2plv, 2rlv, 1plv, 1rlv. II: 1d. IV: 2vt, 2vt. Scopulate setae on tarsi and metatarsi of legs I–II, and only on tarsi of legs III–IV. Palp: retrolateral tibial apophysis present on retrolateral surface; median apophysis present next to embolus, thin, elongate, curved prolaterally; sperm duct present on retrolateral surface of tegulum, curved close to basal margin of tegulum; embolus broad at base, tip tapered and slightly curved; cymbium pear-shaped, broadest at basal third; two small spines present on tip of cymbium; two large ventral terminal spines distally near tip ( Figs 165, 166 ).

Distribution. Micaria scutellata sp. nov. is only known from two localities in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa ( Map 5 ).

Figures

MAP 5. The distribution of 13 Micaria species in the Afrotropical Region .

FIGURES 27–36. Stereomicroscope photographs of the dorsal habitus of Afrotropical Micaria species: 27 M. parvotibialis sp. nov. male; 28 M. plana sp. nov. female and 29 male; 30 M. quadrata sp. nov. female; 31 M. quinquemaculosa sp. nov. female and 32 male; 33 M. rivonosy sp. nov. female; 34 M. sanipass sp. nov. male; 35 M. scutellata sp. nov. male; 36 M. tersissima Simon, 1910 male. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 61–64. Scanning electron microscope images of the lyriform organs of Micaria: 61 M. koingnaas sp. nov. male, patella I; 62 M. scutellata sp. nov. male, patella IV; 63 M. plana sp. nov. male, patella I; 64 M. quadrata sp. nov. female, patella I.

FIGURES 79–85. Scanning electron microscope images of the feathery setae of Micaria: 79 M. chrysis (Simon, 1910) male, femur IV; 80 M. durbana sp. nov. female, femur IV; 81 M. felix sp. nov. female, tibia IV; 82 M. scutellata sp. nov. male, tarsus I; 83 M. subopaca Westring, 1861 female, femur I; 84 M. dives (Lucas, 1846) female, femur IV; 85 M. pulicaria (Sundevall, 1831) female, femur I. Abbreviations: FS—feathery setae.

FIGURES 92–95. Scanning electron microscope images of the abdominal setae of Micaria: 92 dorsal abdomen of female M. felix sp. nov.; 93 squamose setae on posterior half of dorsal abdomen of female M. felix sp. nov.; 94 sicate setae on anterior half of dorsal abdomen of male M. scutellata sp. nov.; 95 elongate squamose setae on anterior half of dorsal abdomen of female M. felix sp. nov. Abbreviations: SiS—siccate setae, SqS—squamose setae.

FIGURES 102–108. Scanning electron microscope images of the genital structure of Micaria: 102 epigyne of M. felix sp. nov., ventral view; 103 epigyne of M. beaufortia (Tucker, 1923), posteroventral view; 104 left palp of male M. felix sp. nov., ventral view; 105 same, detail of distal end of tegulum; 106 palpal tibia of male M. felix sp. nov., retrolateral view; 107 RTA of male M. beaufortia, retrolateral view; 108 cymbial tip of male M. scutellata sp. nov., ventral view.Abbreviations:Ah—anterior hood, Co—copulatory opening, CyS—cymbial spine, Em—embolus, MA—median apophysis, Mp—mating plug, Pp—posterior pockets, RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Vts—ventral terminal spine.

FIGURES 165–168. Genital morphology of Micaria scutellata sp. nov. (165, 166) and M. tersissima Simon, 1910 (167, 168): 165, 167 male palp, ventral view; 166, 168 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 9–17. Stereomicroscope photographs of the dorsal habitus ofAfrotropical Micaria species: 9 M. basaliducta sp. nov. female and 10 male; 11 M. beaufortia (Tucker, 1923) female and 12 male; 13 M. bimaculata sp. nov. female and 14 male; 15 M. bispicula sp. nov. female and 16 male; 17 M. chrysis (Simon, 1910) female. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.